What House of Wellness co-presenter Zoe Marshall loves most about Christmas

Christmas is a time for family, traditions and plenty of food and laughs for our TV hosts Zoe Marshall and Ed Phillips.

When it comes to Christmas, Zoe Marshall has a few things on her must-have list – starting with the perfect tree. 

And that’s a job for Zoe’s husband, West Tigers NRL player Benji Marshall.  

“He goes out and generally surprises me with the most beautiful real Christmas tree,” The House of Wellness co-host says. 

Decorating the tree is always accompanied by the dulcet tones of Frank Sinatra singing Christmas carols.  

“Benji tried to mix it up with some pop from Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, but it always goes back to Frank,” Zoe, 33, says. 

She also gets the couple’s two dogs – Lucky and Mila – into the holiday spirit by dressing them in Christmas outfits and reindeer ears.

Zoe and Benji are expecting their first child, due next year, which makes this Christmas extra special. 

“It does feel a little different, and it brings such a special element,” Zoe says of her pregnancy. “There’s so much joy.” 

Food is also a highlight of the festive season for Zoe, who admits she drives two hours to get the pastizzi she adores. 

“And Christmas in Australia is all about summer, so mangoes and cherries and a honey-glazed ham. Oh, and I do love a pavlova,” she says. 

“For me, Christmas is that feeling of family, and food and laughter and togetherness that I love.” 

Family, food and carrying on traditions also play a major role in Christmas festivities for Ed Philllps, Zoe’s The House of Wellness co-host. 

The Christmases of Ed’s childhood were influenced by his mother’s Swiss background, with presents opened and the big family dinner eaten on Christmas Eve. 

The European-style Christmas also included a gingerbread house with “a present hidden within its delicious walls”. 

Ed, 51, says whoever found the “hidden coin in the special dessert” won control of the hammer, which was then used to “smash the gingerbread house to pieces”. 

Now father to Hayden, 10, and Remy, 6, he continues those family traditions; the table is laden with food and room filled with raucous laughter. 

“Every year I promise I’ll eat more turkey because roast turkey is incredible,” Ed says.  

“We should have it every week of the year!” 

Watch Ed, Zoe and the whole team from The House of Wellness TV celebrate the silly season in style in our special Christmas edition. Premiers at 10am on 17 December on 7TWO.

Images: Nigel Lough
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